An Evaluation of Laparoscopic Pelvic Floor Repair

Author: Elvis Seman

Seman, Elvis, 2016 An Evaluation of Laparoscopic Pelvic Floor Repair, Flinders University, School of Medicine

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Abstract

Pelvic organ prolapse affects up to half of women over the age of 50. The lifetime risk of undergoing prolapse surgery by the age of 80 is 11.1% and of women undergoing surgery, about one-third need a second procedure within two years of primary repair.

The relatively high failure rate from vaginal native tissue repair has, over the last 25 years, led to the introduction of new procedures of two main types: laparoscopic repair in the 1990’s and vaginal mesh repair in the 2000’s. Due to complications, the popularity of vaginal mesh repair has declined in recent years, and more gynaecologists are using native tissue repair

This thesis examines laparoscopic techniques of prolapse repair which do not implant permanent mesh, namely those involving the use of sutures or a biological (porcine) graft. This work shows that laparoscopic repair is successful in the long term, in the majority of women.

Keywords: prolapse, pelvic floor repair, laparoscopy, native tissue repair.

Subject: Medicine thesis

Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2016
School: School of Medicine
Supervisor: Professor Marc Keirse